Chilmark is alive and well. I am enjoying the foggy morning with sunshine breaking through the light mist...a promise of another nice day that we can enjoy without guilt because of the heavy rains just past. I realize how appreciated that rain was as I watch a flock of little birds drinking from a hole in the old tree outside my window.

So Chilmark is more alive thanks to the rain and you know it is well when you go to a meeting at town hall and there are so many meetings that they overflow the building. The number of folks who show up after hours to join others in the serious pursuits of the town’s government, all volunteers, continually impresses me.

The planning board is currently visiting all the town committees and commissions. The board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chilmark town hall. They are considering revising and bringing up to date the existing town plan as it relates to Menemsha. This is a lively subject and one that every citizen will have something to say about so this is a good time of year to review the summer’s effect on the area. Let’s hope the fishermen get time to offer their thoughts. It has been heartening to see how busy the commercial fishermen were this summer. All findings and resulting ideas will be aired in public meetings before any actions are taken. If you have something to contribute and cannot make the meeting, the planning board can be reached the town web site and will appreciate all thoughts and suggestions.

Negotiations continue is pursuit of a location for a new fire station and public safety building.

And, a reminder that the selectmen’s meetings are now held at 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at town hall and all are welcome to attend.

Pizza nights will begin at the Chilmark Community Church on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. All are invited to come and share a casual supper and companionship.

There will be a clinic held at Howes House in West Tisbury on Friday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vineyard Smiles is offering free dental care to adults 20 years or older who do not have regular access to dental care and who qualify based on income. The income limit is $28,700 for one person or $38,700 for two. The Chilmark and West Tisbury boards of health sponsor the clinic. If you have questions best to call Debbie Simon, 508-696-0020 ext. 14 or go to mvhealthcareaccess.org.

Congratulations to Brooks Carroll and Tom Langman who had daily bonito wins this week past The fishermen are busy day and night as the annual derby enjoys good weather.

Judy Jardin made a short visit to Chilmark this week to visit with friends and family. Judy is enjoying her life in Lewes, Del. with her grandchildren nearby.

We are all happy to see Margaret Maida out and about after some midsummer health problems.

Mhairi Paget, of Barre, Vt., enjoyed a visit with Ella Jacknain at her Larsen Lane home. The ladies were college friends at Mt. Holyoke some years past.

I promised to tell you about Menemsha net houses. My antiques shop on Basin Road was housed in the last remaining net house in Menemsha. Oral tradition reminds us that there were one or two near the ice pond behind the present Home Port. There was one in what is now the parking lot behind Dutcher Dock and there was one next to the beach near the Ashley’s gas station of long ago. Pound or trap fishermen placed their traps along the north shore with some at Dogfish Bar and off Squibnocket.

The extensive nets that made up the traps were stored for the winter in the net houses. It was necessary to dry the nets before storing them so they were often spread out in front of the houses to dry. The catch was a variety of fish including scup, squeteague, bluefish, striped bass, butterfish, fluke and bonito, sometimes eels. The catch was removed from the traps and sorted and sold locally except in seasons of good catches and then the fishermen took their fish to Woods Hole to sell. The boats they used were usually catboats and/or launches with light engines. Most traps employed an owner and three or four fishermen.

I send many thanks for information to Everett Poole, who remembers tending the traps with his grandfather when he was a lad.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.